The Vibe: ‘fierce panda: singles ‘16’ is a collection of the 12 one-off digital singles the label released over the past year.

The Truth: So in January 2015, after a gazillion year hiatus, fierce panda records tiptoed back into the minefield of one-off single releases. Never ones to do anything by halves (especially Amstel) the label promptly launched a year-long singles club with 12 releases by 12 different bands on 12 different beermats over the course of 12 months, all backed by the kind hearts at Arts Council England. Some of those acts had names like Whistlejacket, Fake Laugh, Doe and ALMA, and at the end of the 12 months we hauled those 12 tunes together to form the finely-balanced ‘fierce panda: singles ‘15’ compilation.

All of which was such tremendous fun we decided to repeat the experience for 2016, albeit without the beermats the second time around. Another 12 new releases by another 12 different acts have duly appeared over the past 12 months, and this flirty dozen has been corralled into a compilation called – wait for it – ‘fierce panda: singles ‘16’. Some of these tracks are debuts. Some are side projects. Virtually every song was embraced by the blogosphere and received bearplay from nice people like Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. And all were carefully chosen for their pizazz, their panda panache and their way with a handsome melody, rather like this…